As representatives and senators hold town hall meetings to inform the electorate about proposals to reform the health care system, right wing ringers are being dispatched by the insurance industry and conservative ideologues to disrupt the gatherings. While trying to appear to be a grassroots movement, it is well known that these stooges are doing so at the behest and direction of these interested parties. This is well documented by the "political action memo" called Rocking the Hall – Best Practices.
The document advises that people inclined to oppose health care reform should go to town hall meetings, carefully array themselves throughout the hall to make it appear they represent a widespread spontaneous movement, and be jerks. They are advised to interrupt and become nuisances for the representative, something Keith Olbermann and Rachel Maddow documented is already happening. Apparently, the tactics have been successful to a degree so far. The representatives find themselves unprepared for these outbursts because they suppose that others have gathered for civil discourses.
Of course, this sort of thing is difficult for ordinary intelligent people to counter. Since the fools offer no arguments against reform, it is tough to figure out what reasons to offer in favor. Reasonable people are stymied in the face of such shrill and silly behavior.
I have an idea.
How about representatives open up their town hall meetings with a statement like the following:
I’m delighted to see so many people have come to discuss health care reform in a reasonable and intelligent manner. We will not find our way out of the present health care mess if people of good will cannot come together to engage in civil discourse.
Sadly, it has been revealed that insurance companies and other parties with financial interests at stake have sent people out to disrupt meeting just like this. I have posted a document on my website showing the tactics such people have been told to employ. I hope we don’t have these kind of disruptions in this meeting, but if we do, we will all know that the people who engage in such tactics are not looking out for the interests of the American people.
Wouldn't this kind of pre-emptive comment help immunize the politician from the planned disruptions? Wouldn't the provocateurs simply appear to be asses if they went forward?
Kossacks, can we collaborate to resist these foolish and rude tactics? What other ideas do you have that might help people of good will counter these thuggish practices?